Is Adoption Worth it?

“It seems like a lot of trouble.”

Yes, adoption is a lot of trouble. I am navigating through a lot of troubles. Logistical trouble. School trouble. Learning disability trouble. Scheduling trouble. Emotional transition trouble. Navigating new relationships trouble. Balancing new family with birth family loyalty trouble. Balancing the needs of birth kid’s and adoptive kid’s needs. Defining my new role troubles.

It doesn’t seem like a lot of trouble. It actually is. But the question is, “Is it worth it?”

There are almost half a million kids in the US foster care system. Over 100,000 of those kids are eligible for adoption. In 2011 nearly 50,000 foster kids were adopted. The average age of kids eligible for adoption is 8 years old. Each year 26,000 kids age out of foster care, with no family.

Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless… this is God, whose dwelling is holy.God places the lonely in families… Psalm 68:4-6

I may not be the perfect adoptive mom. I may have weaknesses, short comings and complete inabilities. BUT… God has placed a lonely child in MY home. I’m so humbled by that. God picked our family to bring comfort to just one of the thousands who need it. And today I realized, in the midst of my troubles, if I can introduce this child to the Father of the fatherless… yes it is worth it all the way.

Well said. Even if you are already a parent, you will discover a ton off stuff you didn’t know about parenting when a foster child comes into tour home. I know that the LORD will be with you AMD help you as you juggle and balance the new dynamics in your home.

Wow. Just this morning I heard Michelle Bachmann speak on a program similar to “Focus on the Family” regarding foster parenting. Every excuse I’ve ever had to push it off was thrown out the window when she said they did it when their kids were really little (like mine are right now.) Then I read this from you. Wow. I believe God is speaking to my heart regarding this. He has occasionally in the past and I rationalize my way out of it. Finally I talked with my husband about the idea tonight. Definitely looking into it…finally.

If you ever needed encouragement that your posts are useful for the Body of Christ, today is one of those days. He confirmed something through you and Michelle today, all through His Spirit moving in each of you and based on His Word regarding orphans. Plus His perfect timing that I will never be able to forecast.

Praying that if He touch anyone’s heart regarding orphans, that we would knock it off, rationalizing or talking ourselves out of it. I’m “grade A guilty” of that. Whether it’s adoption or foster parenting; the hurting, lonely, orphaned children need Him. We are part of the answer. And if that’s His plan for our family, then yes…He will make a way and provide what’s needed to make it happen.